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Secret of snake slithering found in weights and scales

10 June 2009

By Jim Giles

THE secrets of how snakes slither across smooth surfaces have finally been pinned down by animal locomotion experts. The findings solve an age-old conundrum and could help engineers build better search-and-rescue robots.

It’s clear that snakes push against rocks and other debris when moving across rough ground, but how exactly do they negotiate flat surfaces, such as paved roads? David Hu and his colleagues at New York University say they have found an answer.

The team administered anaesthetic to 10 young Pueblan milk snakes – relatively small and harmless reptiles about 35 centimetres long. While the snakes …